Chapter 7
Harry Potter opened his eyes to a dark room. He laid there in the darkness of his bedroom, feeling incredibly warm. He shifted backwards in the bed, only to run into another body. Craning his head, Harry squinted in the darkness to see Cassie laid behind him. He couldn't believe that none of them moved the entire night. He rolled his head back to breathe in the vanilla aroma of Hermione's bushy hair.
Harry shifted slightly, his body brushed against Hermione's. He stiffened, feeling her move as well, but what he didn't expect was how close she was. In her sleep, she scooted closer to him, wiggling her arse into his crotch. He sucked in a sharp breath and prayed she didn't wake to feel his cock pressing against her arse.
As he rose slowly from his spot, Harry sat up on his left hip and looked around the room. It was dark, but he could see sunlight shining from the thick, heavy crimson drapes. He wanted his glasses, but knew he had to reach over Hermione to get them. Scooting his body until he sat on his arse, he pulled his knees slowly to him.
He couldn't believe his friends and sister bunked with him last night. The overwhelming support caused his eyes to sting with wetness. They were the only ones that knew how fucked up his head was right now. Resting his head on his knees, he fought to cry. Between Sirius taking him in and telling Dumbledore to basically fuck off moved him close to tears. It saddened him to think there were maybe a dozen people that he could count on.
Taking a shuddering breath, Harry lifted his head and swallowed his sadness. Sliding his hand under his pillow, he grasped his holly wand and pulled it from his pillow. Holding it in his right hand, he cast a Tempus charm and saw it was half past seven. He had slept the whole night with no nightmares. Setting his wand down, it rolled underneath his sleep wear, much to Harry's annoyance.
Stretching, he sighed and turned his head to analyze how he was going to make his escape from the crowded bed. Rolling onto all fours, he slowly crawled his way out of the comfortable bed, wobbling a bit. He maneuvered until he was sitting on the edge of the bed, his feet touching the cool hardwood floor. The young wizard slid his hands over his face and stood up. He tiptoed around the bed where Hermione slept and plucked his glasses off the night table.
The room swam into focus around him. Casting a glance at his friends and sister asleep in bed, he wished to join them, but knew that sleep would elude him. Giving up, he slipped into the loo and got ready for the day. When he emerged from the loo twenty minutes later, he found the bed empty. Everyone must have risen and escaped while he was showering.
Finding clothes in the large walk-in closet, which startled him seeing the massive amount of clothes, he pushed his legs into a comfortable pair of jeans and a black button-up shirt. It wasn't his typical style, but he refused to complain. Shoving his feet in a pair of trainers, he left his room on the fourth floor and slowly made his way down, stopping to knock softly on Cassie's bedroom door. He heard a giggle from the other side of the door as it opened, revealing a smiling Hermione. Harry inhaled sharply, seeing her face light up. He realized then how pretty she was. Giving her a smile, he stepped aside as she stepped into the hallway.
"Morning Hermione…. Cassie," Harry said, giving them a smile. It wasn't a full radiant smile, but he tried.
Hermione's smile softened as she stepped toward him. Cassie came out of the room, closing the door behind her. "Morning Harry."
"Harry!" Cassie exclaimed, seeing him. "Morning, new brother of mine."
"Morning, Cassie," he repeated, giving her a smile. "Have you seen Neville?"
"We did. He said he wanted to speak to his Gran before breakfast," Cassie spoke up, Hermione agreeing with her.
"Shall we head to breakfast? I'm famished," Hermione said, slipping her hand into Harry's.
He grinned at her as she squeezed his hand. There was something about Hermione that pulled him and made him feel warm inside. He knew she cared about him as a friend, but lately he wondered if there could be something more.
Quietly, the trio traveled down the narrow staircase. Harry noticed the carpet was cleaned, as well as the walls. Dobby must have been up all night cleaning. He hoped Dobby was sleeping and leaving the cooking to Kreacher. The thought made him pause. He trusted Dobby, but didn't know Kreacher very well.
The trio paused on the ground floor as Cassie slipped into the parlor. As she pushed the door open, he could hear Neville talking to someone through the floo. Harry and Hermione stood outside the parlor and waited. He could feel Hermione's warm hand still in his. Her presence kept him grounded. While they waited, Harry noted the clean house. It was a far cry from yesterday when they arrived.
Dobby and (possibly) Kreacher did well cleaning the ground floor as well. Years of dirt and grime were gone from the walls, ceiling, and floor. Harry wondered if Sirius was going to change the color scheme and get rid of the Slytherin green and silver. A minute later, Neville and Cassie came through the door, giving Harry and Hermione a smile.
"Ready for breakfast?" Neville asked, seeing Harry.
Harry nodded at Neville and tugged on Hermione's hand. The quartet traveled in pairs down the narrow stairs, hoping that no one was up. Though, with Harry's luck, the Weasleys were already awake and sitting down for breakfast. Harry felt a stirring of annoyance building. This was Sirius's home, and the Weasleys made themselves at home here. He wondered who invited them in the first place.
A coil of unease settled in his stomach as he remembered how last night went. He wasn't in the mood for Ron's sour attitude. Maybe he could turn around and have breakfast in his room. He would invite his friends, but he was a Gryffindor. No use chickening out now. As they came closer to the kitchen, he could hear voices. Great, they were up.
Harry pushed the old door open, revealing the Weasleys. Only the twins turned around to give the group a wave as they walked into the room. The aroma of bacon made his stomach growl, pushing him to move quicker to find a seat. Mrs. Weasley had her back turned, facing the stove. He saw puffs of steam and smoke coming from the multitude of pots and pans and the popping sound of bacon.
"Morning children," Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully, craning her neck to see who stepped into the kitchen. Harry didn't miss the frown she sported seeing Harry and Hermione standing close together. Her eyes narrowed, seeing them hold hands.
He would investigate this later.
Plates appeared on the table as she grabbed the frying pan and began dishing out the breakfast food. Harry couldn't help but notice that Mrs. Weasely ignored Neville and Cassie, who stood right behind Harry and Hermione. Harry took a seat first. The walk down the stairs tired him easily. Before Hermione could swing a leg over to sit beside him, Mrs. Weasley stopped her.
"Now Ginny, you sit right here," Mrs. Weasley instructed, placing Ginny beside Harry.
Harry looked up at Hermione, who narrowed her eyes and shrugged. He twisted his head to watch her walked around to sit on the other side of him but was thwarted by Mrs. Weasley again who placed Fred, or was it George, beside him?
"Ron, you can sit beside Ginny and Hermione, dear. You can sit on the other side of Ron," Mrs. Weasley said, setting a pitcher of juice on the table.
Without being asked to sit down, Neville and Cassie took a seat across from Harry. Harry didn't miss the smoldering anger that simmered in Neville's eyes nor the pang of hurt cross Cassie's face. Hermione furiously sat down on the other side of Ron. Despite the argument from last night, Mrs. Weasley was trying to make them play nice with each other.
He couldn't even crane his head to look at Hermione without being noticed. She was too far away from him and he couldn't take it. Harry shook his head, trying to fight off the impending panic that was settling in his bones. Squeezing his eyes shut, Harry took a shuddering breath, but felt the panic begin pooling, anyway.
Harry wanted Hermione sitting beside him, not Ginny. Ginny could never understand him like Hermione. He felt his heart start beating faster than normal as he tried to push down the panic. Last night flooded his mind. How his friends were with him. How he felt safe and comforted by them. He and Hermione slept in the same bed last night. He could still feel her warm heat pressing against his chest. Suddenly, pain gripped his fingers. He looked down to see where his nails were planted deep into the wood top of the table.
Grimacing, he never noticed that Neville was staring at him. Never saw the worry in Cassie's eyes. Shuddering, he tried to scoot away from Ginny, only to be blocked by one of the twins. He felt his toes curl in his trainers as he forced his eyes open to stare at the plate of food. After a few seconds of staring at the full English breakfast, he decided he couldn't be in the same room with these people.
"Harry?" Ginny's voice broke through his impending panic attack. "Are you all right?"
He felt a hand touch his arm. Jerking away, he hissed low, whipping his head around to look at Ginny. Her eyes were confused at his reaction to her.
"Don't touch me!" he snapped. He couldn't care less if she felt like he slapped her with his words.
He whipped his head around, seeing everyone staring at him with a mix of confusion and worry. His emerald eyes searched for Hermione. She was rising slowly from her seat, her eyes watching him. He found Neville and Cassie watching him. Harry could see the concentration and unasked question.
His breath hitched as panic swelled inside him. Harry felt five sets of probing eyes watching, wondering what was wrong with him. In haste, he scrambled over the wooden bench and ran from the room. He couldn't stand the staring. One would think he was used to the staring.
"Let me go, Ronald!" Harry heard as he jerked on the door.
The heavy kitchen door slammed with a bang as he fled up the stairs, taking two at a time. He needed to find a space. He needed to be alone. His heart hammered in his chest as he passed the second floor. He couldn't stop. His world was bleak, his eyes unfocused as he continued his journey.
Harry's sweaty hands fumbled with the knob as he twisted it three times before he opened it. His eyes lit up as he stumbled into the dark room, his heart thumping. He slid into the small wedge between the wall and the dresser. As he squeezed his eyes shut, he fisted his hands in his hair. He took a shuddering breath and leaned his head against the wall.
Neville Longbottom grunted softly as he rolled over in bed. Unfortunately, he rolled the wrong way, landing with a loud thump on the hardwood floor. He opened his eyes seeing the dark room and quickly realized that he wasn't at home. The tired wizard pulled himself to a sitting position, rubbing his arm. It would be sore until he found a pain relief potion.
As he came to his feet, Neville noticed Harry wasn't in bed. Neville saw a strip of light coming from the loo as he gazed around the room. With the loo occupied, he turned and crept from the room. Closing the door quietly behind him, Neville hurried down the stairs and found the twins coming from a room.
"Morning Neville!" Fred, or was it George said.
"Morning, gents," Neville replied, giving them a nod.
He furrowed his brow at seeing the twins glance at one another. Neville caught the worried look the twins were passing back and forth. They were hiding something or actually worried about something. The young wizard felt himself grow impatient with the silent talk the twins were having. He wanted a shower and a call to his gran. He wanted to inform her about the Weasleys staying at Grimmauld Place.
Finally, he had enough. He huffed loudly, his patience gone. "What is it?"
The twins looked at him before looking back at each other. One of them nodded, taking the lead. "It's about last night," twin one said. "We know that Harry and Ron were speaking, but we didn't know it was that bad."
Neville inhaled deeply. He wondered why the twins were talking to him rather than Harry. Though he realized it might be better coming from him rather than Harry. He wasn't sure how his best mate would take this conversation, considering how things have gone for him. He shifted from one foot to the next, trying to figure out what he was going to say.
"You both were there when Harry's name was called from the Goblet," Neville began. "You saw how Ron treated Harry. He turned his back on his best friend. Hermione, Cassie, and I spent the better part of a month helping Harry survive and for what? For Ron to swoop in after the First Task and give a half-arse apology?"
"We saw Ron apologize, but we never found out what he said. We assumed Ron was being a lazy git and didn't want to help do the research." Fred whispered.
"All of us worked hard to keep this quiet. None of us wanted the attention that it would bring, and not from the Gryffindors. Imagine if word got out that Harry and Ron were feuding."
"We understand, we do. It was just last night. We didn't expect hostility. Mum and dad questioned us after the four of you left," George said, before Fred could.
"I think if Ron behaves, then Harry won't snap at him. Harry's not forgiving to someone who belittles others," Neville explained, giving the twins a knowing look.
The twins nodded solemnly at him. Neville could tell the conversation was bothering the twins. Their immature and jealous brother had shaken natural, go-lucky attitude. He watched in amusement as the twins looked at each other with wicked faces. While Ron might think his summer was going to be quiet, the twins had original plans.
"May I use your loo to freshen up? Harry's got the shower in our room," Neville inquired before letting the diabolical two leave.
"Sure! Just clean up afterwards," Fred said before hooking an arm through his twin as they left to plan the rest of their summer.
Neville shook his head at the two before disappearing into the bedroom. He hoped there wasn't a prank or two in the room to prevent him from showering. As he disrobed, he sighed, remembering he forgot his clothes upstairs. Calling for Dobby, he asked the enthusiastic elf to bring him clothes. The elf snapped his bony fingers and neatly stacked clothes appeared on the counter. Giving his thanks, Neville climbed into the hot shower.
Leaving the twins' borrowed room a while later, he hurried quickly down the narrow stairs, marveling at the quick work that Dobby did to Grimmauld Place. Pushing the door to the parlor open, he saw the glowing embers of the fireplace. Even in the middle of summer, the room felt chilly. It differed completely from his home at Longbottom Hall. While Dobby removed most of the gothic silver and green furniture and decor, coldness still lingered over the house.
He crouched down in front of the fireplace and palmed his wand. Casting Incendio, he watched as the small embers roared to life. Satisfied, he rose, pocketing his wand and grabbed a pinch of the silvery floo powder. He took a step back and tossed the powder into the fireplace. The flames turned emerald as they rose higher into the flue.
Neville took a seat on the floor in front of the fire and stuck his head into the harmless green fire. Calling out for his gran, he waited patiently for her. Within a few minutes, he saw his Gran sitting primly in a comfortable chair in front of the fire.
"Homesick already, Neville?" she inquired.
Neville shook his fiery head. "No, but I want to tell you that the Weasleys are here."
"What in Merlin's name are they doing there?"
"Not sure, but I think the Headmaster invited them here."
"That is the home of Sirius Black. I didn't think Albus had that kind of say-so."
"I didn't either until they arrived last night. Ron and Harry had a few words," he confessed. "I don't think Mrs. Weasley cares that Cassie and I are here."
"Well, it's none of her business. They invited you to spend time there and you will stay until your time is up," Augusta said firmly.
Neville nodded his head in agreement. While he didn't like the situation, there wasn't anything he could do about it. If things became heated, then Sirius had every right to throw them out. Maybe during the summer, he would figure out why they were there. After saying goodbye to his Gran, he pulled his head from the green fire and rose to his feet. He watched as the emerald fire died out and returned to embers.
He left the parlor and walked down the flight of stairs to the downstairs kitchen. The stairway was dark as he strolled down the steps. He wondered if Cassie was awake by now and couldn't wait to see his girlfriend. His steps slowed as he heard voices at the bottom of the stairs. Hurrying, he found Harry, Hermione, and Cassie standing there.
"Morning guys!" he whispered loudly, catching their attention.
All three teens turned around to see him coming down the steps. Cassie broke away from Harry and Hermione and rushed at him, throwing her arms around his neck. He embraced her tightly, not forgetting they shared a bed last night. He pulled away from her and kissed her gently on the mouth.
As he broke the kiss, he turned to give Harry and Hermione a wave. The door to the kitchen stood before them. He could see light peeking through the door. The tension in the air was palpable. No one wanted to go inside, but Neville knew Harry wouldn't let a failed friendship stop him from eating breakfast.
Neville stepped past them as he mustered the courage to push the large door open. The aroma of breakfast assaulted his nostrils as he stepped into the room first. The noise ceased as all eyes turned to look at the newcomers. He felt Cassie's hand grip his own hard. Neville eyed the room, seeing Mrs. Weasely cooking a large breakfast with Kreacher standing by, helping with other things.
When she turned around to see who stepped in, Neville could see the disdain flash in her eyes before it was replaced. Mrs. Weasley made Harry sit next to Ginny, far from Hermione's presence. He glanced at Cassie, who frowned at him. He pulled her close to him, giving her hand a tug, and they sat across from Harry.
Mrs. Weasley continued to ignore them as she prattled on about nothing. The twins gave him a sad look but went back to their breakfast. He watched as Hermione ignored Ron, who was sitting beside her and tried to keep her eye on Harry. His eyes fell on his best mate. He could tell that something was wrong with him. Harry had spent the past several days leaning on Hermione for stability and now she was far away from him.
Normally it wouldn't have bothered Harry so much, he surmised, but since the graveyard and the resurrection of Voldemort, Harry had leaned on his bookworm friend since. Neville watched with a critical eye as Harry's body became rigid. There was something going on.
Neville almost swore out loud as Ginny placed her hand on Harry's arm. When she asked him if he was all right, Harry screamed at her. It startled the poor girl and caught everyone's attention. From the corner of his eye, he watched as Hermione leaned forward, her body brushing against her breakfast plate. His heart broke watching Harry tremble and look around the room wide-eyed. It was happening again.
It didn't surprise him when Harry pulled himself from the table and ran from the room. Neville twisted his body around to watch his best mate slam the door behind him as he continued to run away from the prying eyes. His eyes directed at Hermione, who had risen from her seat as Harry ran past her. She reached for him, but wasn't able to grab his arm. Instead, Ron had stood up and wrapped his arms around Hermione's middle, keeping her from chasing Harry.
The smile that formed on his face when she elbowed him in the stomach would last him all day. He turned his head to look at Cassie, whose face was streaked with tears. He pulled her close to him as she rested her head on his shoulder. Neville heard the door open as Hermione yanked on it. Her feet pounded the stairs as the door swung closed.
He gave Cassie a tight squeeze, letting her go as he rose from the table. His appetite lost as he glanced down at his breakfast. The room was silent as he and Cassie left the room. The long flight up to the fourth floor seemed like it took an eternity. He hoped they wouldn't run into Sirius or Remus.
They made small talk as they climbed the narrow staircase. Maybe he would speak to Sirius about enlarging the stairs to make them look normal. At least in a walking sense. They reached the fourth floor a minute later. The door was wide open. In her haste, Hermione must have left it open. He turned his head to look down at his short girlfriend, who winced.
He gave her hand a tighter and pulled her quietly into the room. Easing her in front of him, he closed the door and let his eyes adjust to the darkness. Normally, the wall sconces would light up when someone walked into a room, but this time, they stayed extinguished.
Neville and Cassie crossed the room quietly, hoping to not disturb Harry. A shadow loomed in a small corner of the room between the dresser and wall. As they came into view, it was Hermione sitting. In front of her was Harry. He had squeezed himself into the small opening and refused to move.
Neville knew they were treading on dangerous ground. Hermione's head whipped around, her wand clutched in her right hand. She relaxed seeing and motioned for the couple to sit beside her. Taking the initiative, Neville slid down the wall until he was sitting on the cool hardwood floor. Cassie took the spot beside Hermione and reached her hand to touch Harry's ankle gently.
They welcomed the silence in the room. The four teens sat in near darkness. Every so often, Neville would hear a breath hitch coming from Harry. The young wizard sat there thinking about earlier. How he saw the panic in Harry's eyes as he rushed from the room. The bewildered looks the rest of the Weasleys gave him as the door slammed.
They did not acknowledge mental health in the Wizarding world. If someone needed help, they did not speak it about. Neville was sure that, being in Azkaban all these years, would need help. He hoped Sirius and Remus had a plan to help his friend. Maybe he ought to say something after this.
A small noise caught his attention, and he turned his head to see Hermione and Cassie backing away as Harry emerged from his hiding spot. The dark-haired wizard looked terrible, and Neville's heart went out to him. He didn't look at anyone while he crawled himself out of the hole.
The four teens sat in silence for a few minutes, the darkness keeping them company. He heard Harry sigh and watched as the dark-haired wizard reached for Hermione. She easily fell into his arms as his left arm snaked out to grip Cassie's hand.
"I—I'm sorry guys," Harry whispered to them, his head buried in the crook of Hermione's neck.
"Harry," Hermione whispered. "No one is angry. You don't have to apologize."
Neville sighed and rose to his feet. He stretched his hand out for Cassie to stand. He gave her a watery smile as she took his hand. They stepped back, giving Harry space to stand up.
Harry rose on shaky legs, and Neville reached for his friend. He slipped an arm around Harry's back to help support him. Slowly they walked to the bed, where he helped Harry sit down. He scooted back until he was in the middle of the bed. The girls helped tuck him in.
None of them spoke as they all climbed into the bed. Hermione scooted behind Harry, placing her arm around his middle, her forehead resting on his upper back.
Cassie stretched out in front of Harry. She rolled her body into his. Neville climbed in behind Cassie and wrapped an arm around her middle, pulling her closer to him than Harry. The room was quiet, sans for the soft breathing of the four teens.
After a while, Neville heard a quiet snore come from Harry and realized his friend was asleep. He lifted his head and nudged Cassie, who woke up and looked around, confused, until she saw his face.
He eased himself slowly out of the bed so he wouldn't wake Harry. Cassie followed him, her movements slow as she pulled herself out of the bed and away from her brother.
Neville gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and moved around the bed to nudge Hermione. He waited as she rolled partly over to look at him. Placing a finger over her lips, she pulled her wand out and cast a privacy charm around the two of them.
"What do you want to do?" Neville asked, looking at the bushy-haired witch.
"We're gonna need food," she whispered softly. "I'll stay with him."
Neville turned his head to see Cassie standing behind him. She gave him a small nod. He turned back to Hermione. "Cassie and I will get food. We'll be back shortly."
Hermione nodded and cancelled the spell. He watched as she turned herself back into Harry's body. He leaned away from the bed, took Cassie's hand, and led her out of the room. After closing the door behind him, he turned to his girlfriend.
He saw the worry in her eyes and pulled her close to him. Her arms bunched in front of her, gripping his shirt tightly. He held her as she cried quietly as to not arouse suspicion in case Sirius was still in his room.
The gloomy hallway wasn't welcoming as they stood there. A few minutes passed before Cassie's crying ceased and she lifted her head to look up at him. He briefly wondered how she became so short. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss on her chapped lips.
He took her by the hand and led her down the four flights of stairs to the basement where the kitchen lived. Halfway down, a thought crossed his mind. They could have called Dobby, but Neville figured Harry needed a moment alone with Hermione. He knew Cassie needed him with her.
Hand in hand, the two heartbroken love birds traveled down the four flights of stairs until they reached the kitchen door. Neville turned to look at Cassie, who paled, and gave her hand a squeeze. While he wasn't a confrontational wizard, he was learning to face people head on. Much like the past year dealing with Ron.
He placed his hand on the door and gave it a slight push. The aged wooden door swung open to reveal the Weaselys sitting around. Eyes looked at the intruders, and the room fell silent. Neville was sure they were talking about what had transpired earlier. Ginny, upon seeing who walked in, burst into tears. Neville tried to ignore it. He wasn't sure if the act was real or fake.
Breezing past the table full of Weasleys, he steered Cassie toward the icebox and over toward the pantry. Neville grabbed the handle and pulled the door open to the pantry and stepped inside, Cassie pursuing him. He stood rooted to his spot and gazed around the pantry. He hadn't the foggiest idea about what to grab.
A quiet pop interrupted his thoughts. Neville looked down to see a tearful Dobby. The elfin-like creature wore a dirty pillowcase. The creature's ears were lowered as Dobby stared up at them.
"Harry Potter's Neville friend, not call on Dobby for help?" Dobby asked tearfully.
"It's not that, Dobby," Neville said, squatting down to be eye level. "Harry isn't in a good place right now. We need to get him fed. Do you know what he likes?"
Dobby nodded his head vigorously. "I do! I can makes food for him, his Grangy, you, and Harry Potter sister."
Neville sighed and looked up at a bemused Cassie, who stood there watching as the scene unfolded. While she was a competent cook, she didn't want to hurt Dobby's feelings. Neville turned back to Dobby but finds nothing there. He rose to his feet, brushing his hands on his robes, and turned to look at his girlfriend and shrugged. Realizing this was an opportunity, he grabbed Cassie by the waist and pulled her close to him. He lowered his head, kissing her softly before putting pressure on her lips.
When she gasped, he deepened the kiss. He placed his hands on her hips, drawing her closer to him. Before he could push her into the shelves, they heard a loud shriek. Grumbling, Neville stepped back from Cassie and frowned. He took her by the hand and pushed on the door leading back into the kitchen.
The commotion would have been comical if things weren't tense. Standing at the stove was Dobby, brandishing a large metal skillet at a red-faced Mrs. Weasely. The witch and elf stared at each other for a long minute before realizing that Neville and Cassie were in the room. Neville opened his mouth to say something when Mrs. Weasely beat him to it.
"What happened earlier?" Molly demanded, her face turning red again. "Why would Harry be so mean to my Ginny? She did nothing to him!"
Neville looked at Cassie, then turned back to Mrs. Weasely, but said nothing. He wasn't sure it was any of Mrs. Weasely's business. Plus, he wouldn't betray Harry like that. He had a feeling why Harry was reacting, but he wasn't sure what it was called again. Hermione might have said something about it. He would ask her. She was the smartest of them.
"Neville, what's going on?" Ginny asked this time, much to his annoyance.
Neville turned to Dobby, ignoring Ginny, and asked him when the food was ready to take it up. He wasn't sure how Hermione would react to seeing Dobby bring food instead of them, but he would deal with the fallout later. Dobby quietly assured him that Dobby would be discreet in delivering.
A minute later, Dobby popped out of the kitchen with their food. Neville saw that their mission was complete and took Cassie by the hand and led her to the kitchen door for their escape. Before he could place his hand on the ornate door knocker, there was a loud squelching sound as the door shimmered a gold color. Neville frowned as he realized they were locked in.
He turned to face Mrs. Weasely, fury written on his face. "Let us out!"
Molly stood there stiffly, her wand pointing at them. "No one is leaving until we know what happened."
"It's none of anyone's business." Neville replied as he gently pushed Cassie behind him. He would take any spells thrown at them.
"It is, and we want to know," Molly replied stubbornly. "Why did he yell at Ginny?"
"You'll have to ask him when you see him next," Neville replied just as stubbornly.
"He ran off and said nothing! I want to know why he yelled at Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, still not lowering her wand.
Neville felt Cassie grip the back of his robes tightly. He knew she wasn't afraid, but worried. She didn't like confrontations. Neville didn't like them either, but he was getting better at confronting others. It became apparent after Harry's name was pulled from the Goblet, when Neville decided he had enough.
He heaved a breath and looked steadily at Mrs. Weasley. The older witch wasn't backing down from this, and the younger wizard wanted to scream in frustration. The two magicals were locked in a battle of wills and neither one was backing away from this. Neville knew that what happened to Harry was none of the Weasley's business. From what his Gran told him, the Weasleys were practically devout to Headmaster Dumbledore. Would Mrs. Weasley run Dumbledore over Harry?
Before Neville could say anything, there was a heavy knocking on the kitchen door. Everyone in the room froze with fear as the knocking continued. The aged door rattled in its frame as someone beat on it.
"Why is the door locked?" Sirius's voice rang from the other side.
The Weasley Matriarch quickly muttered the counterspell to unlock the door. The door glowed softly before dimming out. Hurriedly, she pocketed her wand as the door swung open slowly, revealing a very confused Sirius. The rest of the Weasely's pretended to be busy as Sirius stepped in, followed by Remus.
"Morning everyone!" Sirius chirped, coming into the kitchen and heading straight to the pot of tea sitting on the long dining room table.
Everyone mumbled 'good morning' to the former prisoner, who sat down with a thump on the creaky chair. Sirius scowled momentarily but reached for the steaming pot. Remus, who noticed something was off, moved cautiously through the kitchen until he sat down across from his old friend.
The rest of the Weasleys' carried on about their business while Sirius and Remus dug into breakfast that turned up. The young wizard felt his stomach roll from the smell of food. Dobby wouldn't be pleased that Neville lost his appetite. Neville, sensing an opportunity, grabbed Cassie's hand and steered her toward the exit.
"Where's Harry?" Sirius spoke up, freezing the two teens in their spot.
"He's upstairs," Neville said slowly, turning around. He caught Sirius's eye, hoping the older man would get why his son was upstairs.
"Did something happen?" Remus inquired, reaching for a scone. He broke it open and smeared butter on it.
None spoke, which made the two Mauraders realize something happened before they arrived. Sirius looked around the room at each Weasley before setting his eyes on Neville. The younger wizard watched as Sirius eyed everyone before landing on him. He wouldn't betray Harry's confidence in front of everyone.
"What happened?" Sirius said, his voice becoming agitated.
"I think you need to talk to them," Neville said, throwing the Weasleys under the carriage. With that, he turned, dragging Cassie out the door.
As the door closed behind them, they could hear Sirius repeat his question with more frustration. The teens looked at each other and grinned. Let the adults hash this out. Harry's secret was safe with Sirius and Remus. Taking Cassie's hand, Neville led them back up to the first floor, where they met with Dobby.
"Dobby, thank you for waiting," Cassie spoke up seeing the house-elf.
Dobby nodded his head vigorously. "Dobby knows that Harry Potter sir isn't well and that his friends needed Dobby to wait. So Dobby waits." With a near silent pop, the house-elf disappeared.
Neville glanced at Cassie as they raced up the last remaining floors. A quiet pop sounded at their feet as they stood in front of the closed doorway. The young wizard wondered if Harry was awake yet and ready to face them. He took a breath and pushed the door open. Dobby walked in and with a snap of his fingers, a large picnic basket appeared on the table close to the fireplace.
The room was dark, with a slight chill in the air. Harry Potter laid in the large bed wrapped in blankets. Hermione was sitting up in the bed, resting on the large pillows. A large book was in her lap, resting on her bent knees while her wand was being used as a light. Dobby trotted to the unlit fireplace and with another snap of his fingers, a small fire grew until it let off enough light.
"Thank you Dobby, you are excused," Cassie whispered, breaking away from Neville.
Neville crossed the room to check on Harry. The troubled young wizard slept soundly, his face calm and serene. He glanced up at Hermione, who closed her book and set it aside. She gave a shrug and drifted off the bed, careful to not disturb Harry. She motioned for Neville to join her and Cassie at the table.
With quick and precise movements, Hermione cast a Silencing and Privacy Charm around them and the table. Without saying a word, the teens sat down in chairs that appeared magically. Dobby must be close by.
"How is he?" Neville whispered, even though the Charm held.
Hermione paused and turned her head toward Harry before turning back to Neville. "I don't know... What happened?" she asked, reaching into the basket for a breakfast sandwich and a bowl of fruit.
"I'm not quite sure," Cassie spoke up, waiting on Hermione to grab her food before reaching in. "I was watching everyone else, and I only caught the ending. It wasn't very nice of Mrs. Weasley to make us sit like she did. Doesn't she know that Harry and Ron detest each other?"
"After Mrs. Weasley sat Ginny beside Harry and Hermione on the other side of Ron, Harry panicked. He kept glancing toward Hermione, which I figure." Neville paused, taking a bite of his own sandwich. He quickly chewed and swallowed the tasteless meal. "I figure Ginny thought he was looking at her. I watched as he went from calm to panic within minutes. It went bad when Ginny touched him."
The girls lowered their sandwiches and looked at the young wizard sleeping in the bed. Neville could tell their hearts went out to him and it pained him.
"Do—do you know why he did that?" Cassie whispered shakily.
"My guess is that he really didn't want to be split from us. Especially me," Hermione said softly. "We were there that night and took care of him. I don't think this is something that happened overnight. I can ask my parents about it. They might be dentists, but they're trained for things like this."
The teens sat in silence and ate the breakfast food Dobby cooked for them as Harry continued to sleep. This summer hadn't been kind to the Boy-who-Lived. From the death of Cedric, to Voldemort's rise, then to his rescue and treatment from his relatives; it was no wonder why he wasn't handling things well.
"Mrs. Weasley held us at wand point and locked the door," Cassie spoke up, finishing her sandwich.
Hermione nearly spit out her pumpkin juice. Her brown eyes wildly looked to Neville, who nodded sadly. "Why?"
"She wanted to know what happened and why Harry yelled at Ginny," Neville replied, tossing the last of his sandwich on the table and leaned back into his chair. His stomach curled at the thought of eating more food.
"So she locked you two in the kitchen?" Hermione asked incredulously. "Didn't anyone stop her? Where was Mr. Weasely?"
"Dunno," Neville said, glancing at Cassie. "But no one did. Everyone was sitting around watching the show. I didn't tell her anything."
"He told her it wasn't any of her business," Cassie piped up, reaching for the small jug of pumpkin juice. "Stood up to her and all. It was kind of hot."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the last statement and ignored the blush that covered Neville's face. "How did you two get out?"
"Luckily, Sirius and Remus showed up. Mrs. Weasley unlocked the door after it was nearly ripped off the hinges. I don't know why they didn't use magic," Neville replied, shaking his head. "We left as soon as Sirius asked about Harry."
They finished the breakfast in silence after that. The trio froze, seeing Harry roll over and mumbled something under his breath. As Cassie packed up the picnic basket, it disappeared with a pop, startling her. Hermione pulled her book out from earlier and resized it so she could read while Harry slept.
Neville scooted his chair over to sit beside his girlfriend. They talked in low tones until they heard a quiet knock on the door. All eyes turned toward the bedroom door and waited until it opened, revealing Sirius. He stood there cloaked in a pair of torn jeans and a black shirt. He didn't see them sitting there at the small table, but walked into the room and toward the sleeping Harry.
The teens watched as Sirius leaned down and placed a comforting head on his godson's head, his fingers tangling in the soft inky locks, before sighing deeply. They could tell his mind was elsewhere, trying to figure out how to make it better. Neville sighed as Sirius leaned up and looked around the room, finally spotting them.
The older wizard tiptoed over to them and stepped inside the privacy ward that Hermione cast earlier. He placed his both hands on the worn table and dropped his head. Neville fidgeted, lacing his fingers with Cassie, who chewed on her lip and rested her head on her boyfriend's shoulder.
"What happened?" Sirius asked, his voice heavy.
Neville looked at the girls, who nodded at him. "We're not completely sure. Mrs. Weasley arranged for Harry to sit away from Hermione. Cassie and I sat across from him and watched as he looked for Hermione. We think he's become attached to her. He flips out and yells at Ginny, who touched his arm." He paused and took a breath. "Then we all came up here after him."
"He finally fell asleep about half an hour ago. It has exhausted him," Hermione spoke up quietly. "I'm going to ask my parents if they know anything."
"Remus and I talked. We're going to send him to a Mind Healer. He's been through so much since the end of the year that I am not surprised things are bad," Sirius said, leaning up to stand. "Now, what happened in the kitchen?"
"Neville and I went back downstairs to grab breakfast for us. We knew that once Harry woke up, he would be hungry. We were almost done when Mrs. Weasley pulled her wand on us and locked the door. She demanded to know why Harry yelled at Ginny and what was going on," Cassie jumped, explaining.
"We didn't tell her anything," Neville assured a pale Sirius. "Then you and Remus showed up, so we left."
"She didn't tell us much either," Sirius sighed again. "Remus is in the library looking up information on how to help Harry, but I told him the Black Library wouldn't have any Healing texts."
"You said something about a Mind Healer?" Hermione asked, closing her book.
Sirius nodded at her, "Yes. Remus and I spoke about it and we're worried. I owl'd my cousin Andromeda. She's a Healer and asked her if she would come over to give Harry a check up. I should receive her owl soon."
"Do you think she could help him?" Hermione asked again, taking charge of the questions.
Sirius nodded again at her. "She's family, so she will be discreet. As far as Mind Healer, I am going to ask her after she gives him the checkup."
"You know he will want no one to know what he's been through," Hermione said softly, looking at her two friends before turning her head back to Sirius.
"I know and that's why I am going to tell him she's there for me and while she's here, she will check him over."
Neville nodded his head. It was a sound plan but, like Hermione, he knew that Harry would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to see a Healer. He rubbed his free hand on his trousers and gave Cassie's hand a quick squeeze. He wanted to kiss her, but her father was standing in front of him and he didn't feel like getting hexed.
The young wizard turned to look at his friend, still sleeping in the large bed. The summer had just begun, and it was already feeling like it would age Harry quicker. He didn't want that for his friend, but saw nothing else to help him. Maybe he could invite everyone to Longbottom Hall for a week or two this summer. It would be good for Harry to spend time in the country.
He would owl his Gran later that afternoon, once things settled down. It would please her he would bring friends by. For the lonely pudgy boy that started Hogwarts alone, he made friends he knew his parents would approve of. Neville knew he wouldn't have to plan anything. The teens could spend time doing nothing if they wanted, but he knew Hermione would have them finish their homework first.
Needless to say, Sirius Black was not having a good morning. Breakfast was horrendous with the Weasley's there. He noted that his daughter and Neville disappeared quickly from the room once the door became unstuck. He would figure out why later on.
He pushed his breakfast away, much to the displeasure of Molly, who had finally sat down after feeding her bunch. It wasn't as if he didn't like her cooking. He did, but his appetite was gone. Once everyone left, he turned to look at Remus. His old friend raised an eyebrow at him as he placed his teacup down.
"Well?" Remus asked, leaning back into the wooden chair.
"Something isn't right. I'm going to talk to Hermione," Sirius said, placing his napkin on his half empty plate. "I'll meet you in the study in half an hour."
With that, he left Remus sitting alone in the kitchen. As he made his way up the long flight of stairs, he thought about how he was going to approach this. From everything he gathered, Harry would not comply without a fight and the longer they put this off, the worse it was going to be. He hoped Andromeda would reply with her consent to help him.
He stopped in front of Harry's bedroom door and paused. Mustering his Gryffindor courage, he pushed the door open to a dark room. Crossing the threshold, he saw Harry asleep in the bed. His heart went out to his son, and now he understood Neville's words from earlier that it had to do with Harry.
He crossed the room quietly and brushed away stray strands of hair from Harry's messy hair. The boy looked peaceful, sleeping compared to his waking life. Sirius looked around and saw the teens sitting at a small worn table. He tiptoed across the room and entered the Privacy ward that Hermione must have erected.
#####
The former prisoner was tired and he could feel it deep in his bones. As he rested there, he took a moment before he lifted his head to ask what really happened. The teens took turns explaining what happened at various moments. His frown deepened the longer he listened. When they explained Molly locked Neville and Cassie in the kitchen, he became incensed.
This was his fucking house!
He felt his magic rise to his skin, threatening to let loose upon Molly Weasley. He ground his fingernails into the wooden table hard enough that it would leave permanent marks. Sirius inhaled slowly as he tried to push down his anger. As he inhaled and exhaled, he felt his magic starting to calm down.
Hermione spoke up, asking questions that he and Remus had already discussed the night before. He agreed wholeheartedly for her to ask her parents about what else could be done that magic couldn't. He leaned back off the table and stood tall. It was nearing his time to meet Remus. He bid the teens goodbye and walked over to kiss the top of Harry's head before he left the room.
Sirius closed the door quietly behind him, then leaned against it. He had half a mind to tell Dumbledore that his pet family was going to be kicked out if they pulled another stunt like that again. He took another inhale before turning left and heading back down the narrow staircase. The former prisoner had to give it to the house-elf, Dobby. The house-elf was very dedicated to his work.
He would have to ask him and Kreacher, who were sulking, to move all the dark objects into a trunk and ward it. Sirius couldn't have the kids touching something that might kill them. The house that he dreaded living in was on its way to be cleaned and well maintained. In a few days, the house-elf would surely bring up decorating. Harry and Cassie could decorate their rooms however they pleased.
As he turned off on the last step to the second floor, he saw Remus standing by the portrait. Sirius gave his old friend a silent nod before performing the blood ritual to get inside. Once the portrait moved, they walked through. Remus took the same chair from yester day and Sirius crossed the room to open the globe mini bar. He grabbed a bottle of Ogden's and two glasses.
Pouring each a generous amount, he handed Remus to him and picked up his own. Remus raised an eyebrow at drinking so early in the day, but Sirius shook his head again. The tired wizard crossed the room and leaned against the desk once again. He took a sip of the fiery drink and winced as it went down his esophagus.
"Is Harry all right?" Remus asked before Sirius could form his first sentence.
"He's upstairs asleep. It was another panic attack," Sirius began.
"He's going to need a Mind Healer, Sirius," Remus interrupted, taking a sip of his own drink.
Sirius sighed and gave Remus a pointed glare, "I know this. Apparently Molly decided to play matchmaker and Harry has become extremely close and, well, needy to Hermione. She wasn't sitting beside him and he panicked."
Remus swore quietly to himself before taking a sip of his drink. He lowered his glass to rest on his thigh and looked at his old friend. Sirius was exhausted, and it was barely ten in the morning. He didn't know how much longer Sirius could take this before he snapped.
Suddenly, an owl swooped in the enchanted window, interrupting their musings. The brown barn owl perched itself on the desk and looked expectantly at Sirius. When Sirius didn't move, the owl barked nastily at him. The former prisoner sat his glass on the desk and retrieved the letter the owl was carrying. The owl gave him a reproving look before flying out.
Sirius unrolled the parchment and read over it quickly. Andromeda agreed to come by and talk to Sirius about Harry. She included she would recommend a checkup for the both of them. At the end of her letter, she stated she would be ready to see Harry in four days' time.
"Well?" Remus pressed.
"Andy says she will be here in four days to give Harry a checkup," Sirius finally said, rolling the parchment back up and stowing it in the front pocket of his jeans. "Four days? That's a long wait."
"How are we going to break that to Harry?" Remus pondered. "What happened to Molly earlier?"
"She locked Neville and Cassie in the kitchen until they gave her answers. I'm going to have a talk with her about it. Remind her whose house she's in."
"She'll run to Dumbledore."
"And I'll explain to him I am exonerated and he can kiss my arse," Sirius said with finality. He finished his drink quickly and set the glass on the minibar, just as Remus did. They left the study and parted ways to carry out personal business.